University of Minnesota Athletics
Baldwin Repeats as WCHA Defensive Player of the Month
12/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - Senior defense Sydney Baldwin has earned her second-straight WCHA Player of the Month award, Powered by GoodWood Hockey, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) announced Monday. Baldwin is the league's Defensive Player of the Month honoree for November 2017 after taking home the same honors last month.
Baldwin led WCHA defensemen with three goals, 0.38 goals per game, one power-play goal, and a +12 plus/minus rating during the month of November. She was second among WCHA blue liners with seven total points (3g-4a) during the month. Baldwin was tied for third among WCHA defense with 16 blocked shots.
The Minnetonka, Minn., native had at least one point in six of Minnesota's eight games during November, helping Minnesota to a perfect 8-0-0 record during November including a 6-0-0 mark in road games and a 4-0-0 mark in conference games.
Baldwin posted two points (1g-1a) in Minnesota's road sweep at Minnesota State to start off the month. She then assisted one goal on the road at Mercyhurst. Against St. Cloud State, Baldwin had a two-point game (1g-1a) in game two on the way to Minnesota's 4-3 win. Most recently, Baldwin had another two points (1g-1a) on the road in Minnesota's sweep at Lindenwood.
As the veteran of Minnesota's young defensive corps, Baldwin helped the Gophers hold opponents to just 1.62 goals per game during November as the Gophers outscored opponents 19-13 during the month. Minnesota's +2.38 goal differential led the WCHA during November.
Baldwin is also an integral part of Minnesota's special teams play, helping the Gophers to the WCHA's top power-play unit at 24.2 percent (8-for-33) and the league's second-best penalty kill at 92.0 percent (23-for-25) during the month of November.
WCHA Montly Awards: November 2017
Offensive: Alexis Mauermann, So., Wisconsin
Defensive: Sydney Baldwin, Sr., Minnesota
Goaltender: Kristen Campbell, So., Wisconsin
Rookie: Emma Maltais, Fr., F, Ohio State
Gophers' 2017-18 WCHA Monthly Award Recipients
October: Sydney Baldwin, Defensive
November: Sydney Baldwin, Defensive
About the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)
The Women's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association has won a record 16 national championships in 18 seasons since its inception in 1999 (including 15 of a possible 17 NCAA titles), while producing seven Patty Kazmaier Award winners, 95 All-Americans and numerous Olympic and national team members. The seven-team Division 1 conference consists of: Bemidji State University (Beavers), the University of Minnesota (Golden Gophers), the University of Minnesota Duluth (Bulldogs), Minnesota State University (Mavericks), Ohio State University (Buckeyes), St. Cloud State University (Huskies) and the University of Wisconsin (Badgers). For more information, visit www.wcha.com.
About GoodWood Hockey
Family owned and operated in Saint Paul, Minn., GoodWood Hockey is focused on providing unique, high quality, socially-responsible apparel to the growing hockey community. The only hockey-inspired clothing company that specializes in items for the entire family, GoodWood Hockey aims to become a household name in homes across North America through providing excellent products backed by exceptional customer service. Through their philanthropic division, GWH: Hockey for Good, the brand aims to provide support and solutions to global issues through a variety of charities and non-profit organizations. For more information, visit www.goodwoodhockey.com.
###
